Stand Up and Kneel Seat

ABSTRACT

A seat assembly includes a seat back and seat cushion. A forward link pivotally extends between the seat cushion and base. A control bracket has a pair of pivotal links forming a four bar connection with the base. A control link pivotally extends between the seat cushion and control bracket. A seat back operatively coupled to the control bracket has a recliner mechanism for selectively pivoting the seat back between a forwardly folded position and a plurality of reclined seating positions. A guide link pivotally extends between the seat back and control link. Forward rotational movement of the seat cushion urges the seat back to rotate relative to the seat cushion moving the seat assembly to a stand-up position. Pivoting the seat back to the forwardly folded position urges the seat cushion to move forwardly and lower relative to the base moving the seat assembly to a kneeling position.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and all the benefits of U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/880,672, filed on Jan. 16, 2007 andentitled “Stand up and kneel seat.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a seat assembly for an automotive vehicle. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to a seat assembly that is movablebetween a seating position, a stand-up position, and a kneelingposition.

2. Description of Related Art

It is common in certain mini-van and sport utility vehicles to providethird row seating. Typically, the vehicle includes a pair of front doorsadjacent front row seating and a pair of rear doors located adjacentsecond row seating. The third row seating is located at the generallyfurthermost rear portion of the vehicle and is not located adjacent adoor opening. Thus, passengers do not have direct access to the thirdrow seating.

To provide access to the third row seating or a rear storage area, it iswell known that the second row seating may have a releasable seat backlocking mechanism which is capable of being manually actuated in orderto pivot the seat back forwardly to an access position. Optionally, thesecond row seating may be movable to a tumbled position adjacent thefront row seating, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,555 to Liuet al. In Liu, the seat back is first folded forward flat against theseat cushion and then both are pivoted about a pivot point at a lowerfront edge of the seat cushion approximately 90 degrees until the seatback and seat cushion are substantially upright. In this position, theseat back of the second row seating is disposed between the seat cushionof the second row seating and the front row seating. A passenger canthen enter the vehicle through one of the rear doors, moving past thetumbled second row seating, to gain access to the third row seating orthe rear storage area. However, movement of the second row seating inthis manner can be difficult for some passengers, and the passageway foringress and egress is often uncomfortably small for other passengers.

In order to provide better access to the third row seating it has beenproposed to move the second row seating to a stand-up position, such asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,676,216 to Freijy et al. In Freijy, theseat cushion pivots forward about a pivot point at a lower front edgefrom a generally horizontal position for supporting a seat occupant to agenerally vertical position. At the same time the seat back moves from afirst vertical position for supporting the seat occupant to a secondvertical position forward and upward of the first vertical position. Theseat back and seat cushion move dependently due to a linkagetherebetween. However, this embodiment of the second row seatingdisclosed in Freijy is not movable to a kneeling position lying againstthe floor for increasing the available cargo space in the rear storagearea of the vehicle.

In seat assemblies that are stowable, the seat back is pivotally coupledto the seat cushion at a seat back pivot located between a lower end ofthe seat back and a rearward end of the seat cushion. The seat backpivot allows the seat back to pivot between a generally upright positionand a forwardly folded position overlying the seat cushion. The seatcushion often includes a four-bar-linkage or front and rear legsextending between the seat cushion and the floor of the vehicle formoving the seat cushion between a raised position spaced above the floorand a lowered position resting along the floor. In the stowed positionthe seat cushion is in the lowered position and the seat back is in theforwardly folded position. Thus, a back side of the seat back isgenerally horizontal and parallel to the floor and defines a load floorwhen the seat assembly is in the stowed position.

It is therefore desirable to provide a seat assembly that is movablebetween a seating position and a stand-up position to improve access toan area behind the seat assembly. It is also desirable that the seatassembly be movable between the seating position and a kneeling positionto increase the cargo space in the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, a seat assembly is providedfor supporting an occupant above a floor in an automotive vehicle. Theseat assembly includes a seat back and seat cushion. A base isconfigured to be mounted to the floor of the vehicle. A forward linkpivotally extends between the seat cushion and the base. A controlbracket has a pair of pivotal links forming a four bar connection withthe base. A control link pivotally extends between the seat cushion andthe control bracket. The seat back is operatively coupled to the controlbracket. The seat back has a recliner mechanism for selectively pivotingthe seat back between a forwardly folded position and a plurality ofreclined seating positions. A guide link pivotally extends between theseat back and the control link. Forward rotational movement of the seatcushion urges the seat back to rotate relative to the seat cushion andenables the seat assembly to move to a stand-up position. Pivoting theseat back to the forwardly folded position urges the seat cushion tomove forwardly and lower relative to the base and enables the seatassembly to move to a kneeling position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated asthe same becomes better understood by reference to the followingdetailed description when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a seat assembly in a seating position includinga linkage system according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the seat assembly in an intermediate stand-upposition;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the seat assembly in a stand-up position;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the seat assembly in an intermediate kneelingposition;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the seat assembly in a kneeling position;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the linkage system whenthe seat assembly is in the seating position;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a seat assembly in a seating position includinga linkage system according to a second embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of the seat assembly of FIG. 7 in a stand-upposition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a seat assembly for an automotive vehicle isgenerally shown at 10. The seat assembly 10 is shown in a seatingposition and includes a seat cushion 12 for supporting a seat occupantabove a floor 14 in the vehicle. The seat cushion 12 extends between afront end 16 and a rear end 18. The seat assembly 10 also includes aseat back 20 for supporting a back of the seat occupant. The seat back20 extends between a lower end 22 and an upper end 24, as shown in FIG.5.

While only one side of the seat assembly 10 is shown and will bedescribed in detail, it is appreciated that both an inboard side and anoutboard side are substantially the same. Referring to FIGS. 1 through8, the outboard side of the seat assembly 10 is shown. A control bracket26 is disposed at the rear end 18 of the seat cushion 12. The controlbracket 26 extends between a first end 28 and a second end 30.

A seat back bracket 32 extends between an upper end 34 and a lower end36. The upper end 34 of the seat back bracket 32 is fixedly secured tothe lower end 22 of the seat back 20 by any known means. The lower end36 of the seat back bracket 32 is pivotally coupled to the second end 30of the control bracket 26 at pivot axis A. A disc recliner mechanism 37,as is well known in the art, an example of which is disclosed in U.S.Provisional Patent Application 60/669,146, operatively mounts the lowerend 36 of the seat back bracket 32 to the second end 30 of the controlbracket 26. The recliner mechanism 37 is operable between a locked stateand an unlocked state to allow selective pivotal adjustment of the seatback 20 between a plurality of reclined seating positions. Additionally,the recliner mechanism 37 enables the seat back 20 to be pivoted to aforwardly folded position overlying the seat cushion 12, as shown inFIG. 5. Alternatively, any suitable recliner or latch mechanism could beused for coupling the lower end 36 of the seat back bracket 32 and thesecond end 30 of the control bracket 26.

The seat assembly 10 also includes a linkage system, generally shown at38, for moving the seat assembly 10 between the seating position, shownin FIG. 1, and a stand-up position, shown in FIG. 3. In the seatingposition, the seat cushion 12 is in an elevated seating position spacedabove the floor 14 and the seat back 20 is in a first upright position.In the stand-up position, the seat cushion 12 is in a forward verticalposition such that the rear end 18 of the seat cushion 12 is positionedabove the front end 16 of the seat cushion 12, and the seat back 20 isin a second upright position, forward and upward relative to the firstupright position.

The linkage system 38 also moves the seat assembly 10 between theseating position, shown in FIG. 1, and a kneeling position, shown inFIG. 5. In the kneeling position, the seat cushion 12 is in a loweredposition lying along the floor 14 and the seat back 20 is in theforwardly folded position, overlying the seat cushion 12.

The linkage system 38 includes a forward link 40, a guide link 42, alower drive link 44, a control link 46, an upper drive link 48, and abase bracket 54. The base bracket 54 is configured to be mounted to thefloor 14 or a seat track assembly (not shown). The forward link 40extends between an upper end 50 and an opposite lower end 52. The upperend 50 of the forward link 40 is pivotally coupled to the front end 16of the seat cushion 12 at pivot axis B. The lower end 52 is pivotallycoupled to the base bracket 54 at pivot axis C.

The upper drive link 48 extends between a first end 56 and an oppositesecond end 58, best seen in FIG. 4. The first end 56 of the upper drivelink 48 is pivotally coupled to the base bracket 54 at pivot axis D,which is positioned above pivot axis C. The second end 58 is pivotallycoupled to the control bracket 26 at pivot axis E, between the first 28and second 30 ends of the control bracket 26. In the embodiment shown,the upper drive link 48 is generally S-shaped, comprising a firstportion 60 extending from the first end 56 to a second portion 62, and athird portion 64 extending from the second portion 62 to the second end58.

The lower drive link 44 extends between a first end 66 and an oppositesecond end 68. The first end 66 of the lower drive link 44 is pivotallycoupled to the base bracket 54 at pivot axis F, relatively rearward ofpivot axis D. The second end 68 is pivotally coupled to the controlbracket 26 at pivot axis G, relatively rearward of pivot axis E. In theembodiment shown, the lower drive link 44 is generally S-shaped,comprising a first portion 70 extending from the first end 66 to asecond portion 72, and a third portion 74 extending from the secondportion 72 to the second end 68.

The control link 46 extends linearly between a first end 76 and anopposite second end 78. The first end 76 of the control link 46 ispivotally coupled to the rear end 18 of the seat cushion 12 at pivotaxis H. The second end 78 is pivotally coupled to the first end 28 ofthe control bracket 26 at pivot axis J.

The guide link 42 extends between a first end 80 and an opposite secondend 82. The first end 80 of the guide link 42 is pivotally coupled tothe control link 46 at pivot axis K, between pivot axis H and pivot axisJ. The second end 82 is pivotally coupled to the seat back bracket 32 atpivot axis L, between the upper end 34 and the lower end 36. In theembodiment shown, the guide link 42 includes an arcuate portion 84disposed between the first 80 and second 82 ends. The arcuate portion 84of the guide link 42 provides clearance for a recliner handle (notshown) operatively coupled to the recliner mechanism 37 for actuatingthe recliner mechanism 37 between the locked and unlocked states. Itwill be appreciated that on the side of the seat assembly 10 without therecliner handle, the guide link 42 may extend linearly between the first80 and second 82 ends without varying from the scope of the invention.

A first arc S1 defined by the guide link 42 pivoting about pivot axis K,as shown in FIG. 6, extends through pivot axis L. A second arc S2defined by the seat back 20 pivoting about pivot axis A, also shown inFIG. 6, extends through pivot axis L. When the seat back 20 is in thefirst upright position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, pivot axis K andpivot axis L of the guide link 42 are aligned with pivot axis A of therecliner mechanism 37 such that a portion of the first S1 and a portionof the second S2 arcs are contiguous. Therefore, the seat back 20 can beselectively pivotally adjusted about pivot axis A within the contiguousportions of the first S1 and second S2 arcs without actuating thelinkage system 38. The plurality of reclined seating positions aredefined within the limits of the contiguous portions of the first S1 andsecond S2 arcs.

In the embodiment shown, a bottom side 90 of the seat cushion 12includes a cut-out or recess 92. When the seat assembly 10 is in thestand-up position, the pivotal connection at pivot axis J is disposed inthe recess 92 allowing the control bracket 26 and seat back bracket 32to generally vertically align with the seat back 20 and seat cushion 12,as shown in FIG. 3.

The seat assembly 10 further includes a latch mechanism 94 of anysuitable type known in the art for releasably securing the seat assembly10 to the floor 14. In FIGS. 1 through 6, the latch mechanism 94 isillustrated in hidden lines mounted to the second portion 72 of thelower drive link 44. It is appreciated that the latch mechanism 94 couldin the alternative be incorporated into the first end 28 of an elongatedcontrol bracket 26′, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, wherein like primedreference numerals represent similar elements as discussed above,without varying from the scope of the invention. The latch mechanism 94is operable between a latched state and an unlatched state. In thelatched state, the latch mechanism 94 is securely coupled to a strikerbar 96 mounted to the floor 14 and maintains the seat assembly 10 in theseating position. In the unlatched state, the latch mechanism 94 isreleased from the striker bar 96 to allow the seat assembly 10 to movebetween the seating position and the stand-up position.

In operation, starting with the seat assembly 10 in the seatingposition, as shown in FIG. 1, a release handle (not shown) is actuatedto release the latch mechanism 94 from the striker bar 96. The seatassembly 10 can now be moved from the seating position to the stand-upposition. As the seat assembly 10 is moved forwardly, the forward link40 pivots in a counterclockwise direction about pivot axis C and theseat cushion 12 pivots in the counterclockwise direction from theelevated seating position to the forward vertical position, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. At the same time, the lower drive link 44 and the upperdrive link 48 each pivot in the counterclockwise direction about pivotaxes F and D, respectively. The second end 68 of the lower drive link 44pulls downwardly on the control bracket 26, 26′ and urges the controlbracket 26, 26′ to pivot about pivot axis A in a clockwise directionrelative to the seat cushion 12. As the control bracket 26, 26′ pivotsin the clockwise direction, the first end 28 of the control bracket 26,26′ causes the control link 46 to also pivot in the clockwise directionabout pivot axis H. The control link 46 in turn causes the guide link 42to pivot in the clockwise direction about pivot axis K. Since therecliner mechanism 37 is locked, the clockwise movement of the controlbracket 26, 26′ results in the seat back bracket 32, and thus the seatback 20, pivoting about pivot axis A in the clockwise direction relativeto the seat cushion 12. The seat back 20 pivots in the clockwisedirection until the seat back 20 is in the second upright position. Theseat assembly 10 is now in the stand-up position, as shown in FIG. 3.

To return to the seating position, the seat assembly 10 is movedrearwardly, which causes the seat cushion 12 to pivot in the clockwisedirection. The clockwise movement of the seat cushion 12 causes theforward link 40 to pivot in the clockwise direction about pivot axis C.At the same time, the lower drive link 44 and the upper drive link 48each pivot in the clockwise direction about pivot axes D and F,respectively. The second end 68 of the lower drive link 44 pushesupwardly on the control bracket 26, 26′ and urges the control bracket26, 26′ to pivot about pivot axis A in the counterclockwise directionrelative to the seat cushion 12. As the control bracket 26, 26′ pivotsin the counterclockwise direction, the first end 28 of the controlbracket 26, 26′ causes the control link 46 to also pivot in thecounterclockwise direction about pivot axis H. The control link 46 inturn causes the guide link 42 to pivot in the counterclockwise directionabout pivot axis K. Since the recliner mechanism 37 is locked, thecounterclockwise movement of the control bracket 26, 26′ results in theseat back bracket 32, and thus the seat back 20, pivoting about pivotaxis A in the counterclockwise direction relative to the seat cushion12. The seat back 20 pivots in the counterclockwise direction until theseat back 20 is in the first upright position and the latch mechanism 94engages the striker bar 96. The seat assembly 10 is now in the seatingposition, as shown in FIG. 1.

Starting with the seat assembly 10 in the seating position, as shown inFIG. 1, the recliner handle is actuated to unlock the disc reclinermechanism 37. The seat assembly 10 can now be moved from the seatingposition to the kneeling position. As the seat back 20 pivots in thecounterclockwise direction about pivot axis A from the first uprightposition to the forwardly folded position, the lower end 22 of the seatback 20 urges the guide link 42 downward and forward. The downward andforward movement of the guide link 42 urges the control link 46 to pivotin the counterclockwise direction about pivot axis J, which thereforecauses the seat cushion 12 to move forward and downward. At the sametime, the forward link 40 pivots in the counterclockwise direction aboutpivot axis C such that the seat cushion 12 moves from the elevatedseating position to the lowered position lying along the floor 14. Theseat assembly 10 is now in the kneeling position, as shown in FIG. 5.

The invention has been described here in an illustrative manner, and itis to be understood that the terminology used is intended to be in thenature of words of description rather than limitation. Manymodifications and variations of the present invention are possible inlight of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood thatwithin the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practicedother than as specifically enumerated within the description.

1. A seat assembly for supporting an occupant above a floor in anautomotive vehicle, said seat assembly comprising: a seat cushionadapted to be pivotally coupled to the floor; a seat back operativelycoupled to said seat cushion for movement between first and secondvertical positions and a forwardly folded position overlying said seatcushion; and a linkage system operatively coupled between said seat backand said seat cushion, wherein said linkage system urges said seat backto rotate relative to said seat cushion between said first and secondvertical positions in response to pivotal movement of said seat cushionbetween a generally horizontal seating position and a forward generallyvertical position, and wherein said linkage system urges said seatcushion between said seating position and a lowered generally horizontalposition in response to pivotal movement of said seat back between saidfirst vertical position and said forwardly folded position.
 2. A seatassembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said seat cushion extendsbetween a front end and a rear end.
 3. A seat assembly as set forth inclaim 1 including a control bracket extending between an upper first endand a lower second end.
 4. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 1wherein said seat back extends between a lower end and an upper end. 5.A seat assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lower end of saidseat back is pivotally coupled to said upper first end of said controlbracket defining a pivot axis for providing pivotal movement of saidseat back between a plurality of reclined seating positions and saidforwardly folded position.
 6. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 1wherein said linkage system includes a forward link that extends betweenan upper end and an opposite lower end, and a base bracket configuredfor mounting to the floor, said upper end of said forward link ispivotally coupled to said front end of said seat cushion defining apivot axis for pivotal movement of said seat cushion between saidgenerally horizontal seating position and said forward generallyvertical position and further pivotal movement of said seat cushionbetween said generally horizontal seating position and said loweredgenerally horizontal position, said lower end of said forward link isadapted to be pivotally coupled to said base bracket defining a pivotaxis for pivoting said forward link about said base bracket thereof. 7.A seat assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said linkage systemincludes a lower drive link that extends between a first end and asecond end, said first end is pivotally coupled to said base bracketdefining a pivot axis for pivoting said lower drive link about said basebracket thereof, the second end is pivotally coupled to said controlbracket defining a pivot axis to assist the pivotal movement of saidcontrol bracket in response to pivotal movement of said seat cushionbetween said seating and vertical positions.
 8. A seat assembly as setforth in claim 1 wherein said linkage system includes an upper drivelink that extends between a first end and an opposite second end, saidfirst end is pivotally coupled to said base bracket defining a pivotaxis for pivoting said upper drive link about said base bracket thereof,said second end of said upper drive link is pivotally coupled to saidcontrol bracket between said upper first end and said lower second endof said control bracket defining a pivot axis for pivoting said upperdrive link about said control bracket thereof.
 9. A seat assembly as setforth in claim 1 wherein said linkage system includes a control linkthat extends linearly between a first end and an opposite second end,said first end is pivotally coupled to said rear end of said seatcushion defining a pivot axis for pivoting said control link about saidseat cushion thereof, said second end of said control link is pivotallycoupled to said lower second end of said control bracket defining apivot axis for pivoting said control link about said control bracketthereof.
 10. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidlinkage system includes a guide link that extends between a first endand an opposite second end, said first end is pivotally coupled to saidcontrol link between said first and second ends defining a pivot axisfor pivoting said guide link about said control link thereof, saidsecond end is pivotally coupled to said lower end of said seat backdefining a pivot axis for pivoting said guide link about said seat backthereof.
 11. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said seatcushion includes a bottom side having a recess for receiving the pivotalconnection between said second end of said control link and said lowersecond end of said control bracket.
 12. A seat assembly as set forth inclaim 1 including a recliner mechanism operatively coupled between saidlower end of said seat back and said upper first end of said controlbracket for allowing selective pivotal adjustment of said seat backbetween said plurality of reclined seating positions and said forwardlyfolded position.
 13. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid guide link includes an arcuate portion between said first andsecond ends to provide clearance for actuating said recliner mechanism.14. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a latch mechanismmounted to said lower drive link for releasably securing said seatassembly to the floor.
 15. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 1including a latch mechanism mounted to said control bracket forreleasably securing said seat assembly to the floor.
 16. A seat assemblyfor supporting an occupant above a floor in an automotive vehicle, saidseat assembly comprising: a base configured for mounting on the floor ofthe vehicle; a seat cushion having a forward link pivotally extendingbetween said seat cushion and the base; a control bracket having a pairof pivotal links forming a four bar connection with said base; a controllink pivotally extending between said seat cushion and said controlbracket; a seat back operatively coupled to said control bracket, saidseat back having a recliner mechanism for selectively pivoting said seatback between a forwardly folded position and a plurality of reclinedseating positions; and a guide link pivotally extending between saidseat back and said control link, whereby forward rotational movement ofsaid seat cushion urges said seat back to rotate relative to said seatcushion to generally vertically align said seat back and said seatcushion, and whereby pivoting said seat back to said forwardly foldedposition urges said seat cushion to move forwardly and lower relative tosaid base.
 17. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein saidguide link and said control link are configured to enable said seat backto pivot within said plurality of reclined seating positions withouteffecting movement of said seat cushion.
 18. A seat assembly forsupporting an occupant above a floor in an automotive vehicle, said seatassembly comprising: a seat back; a seat cushion extending between frontand rear ends, said front end adapted to be pivotally coupled to thefloor for pivotal movement between a generally horizontal elevatedseating position, a generally vertical position, and a generallyhorizontal lowered position adjacent the floor; and a linkage systemoperatively coupled between said seat back and said seat cushion,wherein said linkage system urges said seat back to move about anarcuate path between a first vertical position and a second verticalposition in response to pivotal movement of said seat cushion betweensaid seating and vertical positions thereby maintaining said seat backin a generally vertical orientation, and wherein said linkage systemurges said seat cushion between said seating and lowered positions inresponse to pivotal movement of said seat back between said firstvertical position and a forwardly folded position overlying said seatcushion.
 19. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 18 including acontrol bracket operatively coupled between said seat back and said seatcushion, wherein said control bracket extends between an upper first endand a lower second end.
 20. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 18including a control bracket operatively coupled between said seat backand said seat cushion, wherein said control bracket extends between anupper first end and a lower second end adapted to be releasably coupledto the floor.
 21. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 18 including arecliner mechanism pivotally connecting said control bracket and saidseat back for providing pivotal adjustment of said seat back betweensaid first vertical position and said forwardly folded position to urgesaid seat cushion between said seating and lowered positions.
 22. A seatassembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said recliner mechanismprovides pivotal adjustment of said seat back between a plurality ofreclined seating positions when said seat cushion is in said seatingposition.
 23. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein saidlinkage system includes a forward link extending between a first endpivotally coupled to said front end of said seat cushion and a secondend adapted to be pivotally coupled to the floor, an upper drive linkextending between a first end adapted to be pivotally coupled to thefloor and a second end pivotally coupled to said control bracket, alower drive link extending between a first end adapted to be pivotallycoupled to the floor and a second end pivotally coupled to said controlbracket, a control link extending between a first end pivotally coupledto said rear end of said seat cushion and a second end pivotally coupledto said control bracket, and a guide link extending between a first endpivotally coupled to said control link, between said first and secondends of said control link, and a second end pivotally coupled to saidseat back.
 24. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein saidsecond end of said upper drive link is pivotally coupled to said controlbracket between said upper first end and said lower second end, saidsecond end of said lower drive link is pivotally coupled to said controlbracket between said upper first end and said lower second end, and saidsecond end of said control link is pivotally coupled to said lowersecond end of said control bracket.
 25. A seat assembly as set forth inclaim 18 wherein said guide link includes an arcuate portion betweensaid first and second ends to provide clearance for actuating saidrecliner mechanism.
 26. A seat assembly as set forth in claim 18 whereinsaid linkage system is configured to enable pivotal adjustment of saidseat back between said plurality of reclined seating positions withouteffecting movement of said seat cushion.